The above greetings are made by Jyoti using Burning Bush leaves (a prized Fall foliage).

Auspicious hour - the Tika ceremony - October 14, 2013 is the 10th day of Bijaya Dashami, which is called Dashami or Tika day.

"On this day, a mixture of rice, yogurt
and vermilion is prepared by family members. This preparation is known as
"Tika". Elders put this Tika and Jamara, which is sewn during Ghatasthapana, on the forehead of younger relatives to bless them for the upcoming years. The red also symbolizes the
blood, which ties the family together. Elders give "Dakshina" or a small amount of money to younger relatives at this time along
with blessings. This continues to be observed for five days til the full moon at which point families and relatives visit
each other to exchange gifts and greetings. This ritual of taking Tika from elder relatives (even distant relatives) greatly helps
in the renewal of community ties. This is one reason why
the festival is celebrated with so much of vigor and enthusiasm".........continue reading more here.

The pictures above and below are the images of Kathmandu streets during festival time.

"Dashain Aayoo" - Dashain is here...

Roads are crowded with vendors calling
out the prices of their products displayed along the footpaths. Store
windows are peppered with colorful signs proclaiming sales. People
spill in and out of shops juggling a few too many carry bags. These
sights are common during Dashain when the whole nation seems to be on
a shopping spree.........continue reading more here.....

The Nepal army (the Guruju ko Paltan, Nepali Police)parading in a cheerful mood with Dashain spirit.

A brass Kalasha (तामा को कलश ) is a holy vessel with wide base and narrow mouth kept in the entrance of the house filled with holy water. Nepalese consider Kalasha as an auspicious pot that is used in almost all ceremonial occasions.

The monumental zone - Durbar square, Kathmandu

Beautiful pieces of woodcarving in doors are seen in every corner and courtyard

Images of Nepali police women sitting in front of Hanuman Dhoka, Durbar square area during the festival

In preparation of Dashain, every house is cleaned, painted and decorated to welcome the goddess - here a Nepali army officer is cleaning and painting the entrance of Kot Courtyard with red mud (raato maato)

The holy Sadhu (holy man) with a painted face - is he on a spiritual search?

A Nepali man chanting and praying to the god inside the carved window

The wandering holy man with painted face and forehead decorated with colorful horizontal stripes and black dots. He is mostly seen around Durbar square area, Kathmandu - giving you blessings, Tika of vermillion powder - in return you are supposed to give him some money.

Another holy man with painted face - if you see him, ask him how he became Yogi, he will tell you the story!

The top and bottom images are the entrance of Kumari Chowk (courtyard area). Amazingly beautiful magical place.

"A big brick building on Durbar Square
in Kathmandu, the Kumari Ghar (or Kumari Chowk) houses the living
goddess of Kathmandu. Built in 1757, the temple is known for its
magnificent carvings as well as its divine inhabitant"....... continue
reading more here.

Joyful Dashain time - Children and young adults are playing in the bamboo swings - photo taken at the Garden of Dreams, Kathmandu

The chanting holy sadhus - I am receiving another blessing....

Butter lamps in brass pot in front of a temple

Offering Butter Lamps is the most
powerful offering because their light symbolizes wisdom. Just as a
lamp dispels darkness, offering light from a Butter Lamp represents
removing the darkness of ignorance in order to attain Buddha's
luminous clear wisdom.........continue reading more here

Festival time - even vehicle is being blessed and worshiped

Images of cleaning local streets in Kathmandu during Dashain festival time - sweeping and street cleaning is done 2-3 times a day.

Happy Bijaya Dashami to all!

A joyous occasion filled with music and dance - several flute artists performing

I
hope you will have much fun as I have putting together images of the
cheerful and much-anticipated religious festival of Nepal. Please drop me
a few lines in the comments section of the blog. Your comments
and feedback are important and I would love to hear from you.

Copyright Information

All information on the Taste of Nepal blog are restricted use under
copyright law. You may not re-use words, stories, photographs, or other
posted material without the explicit written consent and proper credit
to Jyoti Pathak. If you would like to use any materials here, please
contact me.

The above greetings are made by Jyoti by using the Burning Bush leaves (the prized Fall foliage).

Capturing Dashain moments at Taleju Bhavani Temple at the Hanuman Dhoka, Kathmandu - some devotees are lined up with their tray of Pooja ko Samagri (religious offering) to the goddess Taleju. The temple is opened to general public only once a year during the ninth day of Dashain festival.

Admiring the sights and sounds of Dashain time - another view of Taleju Bhavani temple - thousands of devotee have started to form a line before dawn and patiently waiting for their turn for Darshan (to pay respect to goddess) and offer prayers.

Daily rituals during festival time -
devotees have been visiting many religious temples and shrines in the Kathmandu
valley and outside the valley – they are Shova Bhagawati, Nardevi, Naxal Bhagawati,
Guheswori, Dakshinkali, Bhadrakali, Raktakali, Maitidevi, and Sankata
and many more...

The Taleju Temple in the back -
the square's most magnificent temple stands at to the northeast, but is not open to the public. Even Hindus can only visit the temple
briefly during the annual Dashain festival. The Taleju Temple was
built in 1564 by Mahendra Malla. Taleju Bhawani was originally a
goddess from the south of India, but she became the titular deity, or
royal goddess, of the Malla kings in the 14th century. Taleju temples
were erected in her honour in Patan and Bhaktapur, as well as in
Kathmandu.The temple stands on a 12-stage plinth and reaches more than 35m
high, dominating the Durbar Sq area. The eighth stage of the plinth
forms a wall around the temple, in front of which are 12 miniature
temples. Four more miniature temples stand inside the wall, which has
four beautifully carved wide gates. If entry to the temple were
permitted it could be reached from within the Hanuman Dhoka or from
the Singh Dhoka (Lion Gate) facing Durbar Sq. Directly across from
the Taleju Temple is a 10th-century kneeling Garuda statue.....continue reading here, the article from Lonely Planet.

The vibrant culture of Nepal

A young Nepalese women with two tray full of sacred offerings is on her way to Shova Bhagawati temple.

A Brahmin priest outside the temple is offering a prayer and blessing to a young devotee.

Kot courtyard area near Hanuman Dhoka and Durbar square area, Kathmandu - during the 9th day of Maha Asthami, a rituals of ceremonial animal sacrifice (black male goat, buffalo, sheep, chicken, duck) is being prepared in the courtyard.

Official rituals of ceremonial slaughter of animals in the Kot courtyard - with high ranking officials of Armed Police and civil service, the Nepal army, Gurujyu ko Platoon, Nepal police.

Nepali army, Nepali police, and other police forces in the Kot courtyard - carrying marigold flower garland for the ceremony

Visitors watching ceremonial slaughter in the Kot courtyard - the rituals of animal sacrifice has attracted thousands of curious visitors to Nepal during Dashain festival time.

Trying to find a perfect picture taking vista.....worshiping the khukuri, a Nepalese knife with an inwardly curved edge.

Decorated ash gourd(kubhindo), a pumpkin like vegetable in the far right is one of the most important gourd in Nepal. - many people these days are offering कुभिन्डो(kubhindo) to deities instead of ceremonial slaughter of animals.

.... and the ritual of animal sacrifice...

...spiritual world of Nepal - devotee carrying offerings for god

On the way to temple

....worshipping vehicles during Dashain festival

...cultural, social, and religious exchange during festival time

Planting your own Jamara (barley shoots)

Dashain is here, and with the first day
of Ghatasthapana, every Nepali Hindu household will be sowing Jamara, the pale green shoots so essential for the festivities to
be celebrated for the next 10 days thence. Read here more on the method of sowingJamara....another interesting article from e-kantipur about Ghatesthapana, please click here to read.

Picture above and bottom - the most auspicious and joyous time of the year - taking offering to temple

Nepali people in a festive mood

Freshly painted chariot parts

The auspicious Kalasha(कलश), full of holy water is decorated with red and yellow vermillion paste

Religious ceremony before and after the ceremonial slaughter - an army official checks the ash gourd(kubhindo) and fresh coconut cut into two pieces offered to deities

Copyright Information

All information on the Taste of Nepal blog are restricted use under
copyright law. You may not re-use words, stories, photographs, or other
posted material without the explicit written consent and proper credit
to Jyoti Pathak. If you would like to use any materials here, please
contact me.

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Copyright Information

All information on the Taste of Nepal blog are restricted use under copyright law. You may not re-use words, stories, photographs, or other posted material without the explicit written consent and proper credit to Jyoti Pathak. If you would like to use any materials here, please contact me.